Improvement in breeching-straps for harness



H. HOLT.

Breechng-Strap for Harnesls.

Patened Feb. 18,1879.

ILFEI'ERS. FHOTO-LITNOGRAFMER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTGE,

HORAOE HOLT, OF RUTLAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECHlNG-STRAPS FOR HARNESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,467. dated February18, 1879 5 application filed December 30, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Hotmen HoLT, of Rutland,in the county of Meigs and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Breeching-Straps for Harness; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompan yingdrawin gs, which form part of this speciiicatio'n.

My invention relates to an improvement in breeching-straps for harness;and it consists in making the breeching of some thin elastic metal, andconnecting it to the harness, so as to form a part thereof, in the usualmanner, the edges of the said breeching being turned outward, so thatthey will not come in contact with the horse, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my invention. Fig-2 is a side elevation ofthe sane, and Fig. 3 a vertical section.

A represents the breeching, which is made from a strip or sheet ofsteel, of any desired width and length, the edges of which arepreferably turned outward, so that there is no liability of their comingin contact with the lorse. To the ends of this breechiug are riveted orotherwise secured the metallic rings g B for the holdback-straps, and tothe upper edge are riveted or otherwise secured the loops O, for thesupporting side straps to be fastened in. After the parts have beensecured together they are varnished, or otherwise finished so as not tobe affected by the action of water or moisture, and are-thus renderedrust-proof.

By thus making the part A of steel, or any equivalent elastic metal, itcan be made for less than half the price of leather breeching;

it does not wear the hair from the horse under any circumstances; itdoes not need oilin g in wet weather; it retains its curved shape, soa-s to always keep in place while the harness is in use, and it is muchmore durable.

The great objection to leather breechiug arises from the fact that thestitching or the pores in the leather catch against the hairs of thehorse, and where there is much friction of the breeching against him itwears the hair away. Where the breechin g is made of metal, having onlya smooth finished surface to come in contact with the hair, it willnever rub it oif under any circumstances, no matter how much frictionmay be brought upon the breeching. Not only is steel or other elasticmetals adapted for breeching, but it also answers for belly-bands andgirt-hs for horses, as being not only less liable to rub and chafe them,but being stronger and more durable.

I am aware that a flat metal plate has been detachably fastened to theshafts for the horse to bear against in backing the vehicle; but this isused only as a part substitute for harness, and not iu connection withthe common harness. Mybreeching is connected to, and can only be used inconnection with, the common harness.

Having thus described my invention, Iv

December, 1878.

HORAOE HOLT. Witnesses: F. A. LEHMAN, J. W. GARNER.

